One-piece plug and receptacle



March 14, 1933. J PERON] r AL 1,901,041

ONE-PIECE PLUG AND RECEPTACLE Filed May 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lam-IL.-

ELLE-m E r r 9L ATTORNEYS.

Filed May 29 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "I a. a 4 swim Y 7 Mmr M mm 2L o M .mwzA N A m 1 W Z ad! a n m o M J Y Wm B r March 14, 1933.

Fatented Mar. 14, 1933 atins JOHN H. :eERoNI, or rnnnronzr, NEW YORK, Ann SIDNEY I-I. ALEXANDER, or

' ENGLEWOOD NEW JERSEY ONE-PIECE PLUG AND RECEPTACLE Application filed May29, 1931. Serial No. 541,044.

This invention relates to electric fixtures and .one object of the invention is to provlde a fixture which may be used for ornamental oradvertising purposes and so constructed 5 that bulbs carried by companion sections of the fixture may be disposed in such relation to each other that they will form words, symbols or an ornamental border or background for a sign.

Another object of the invention 1s to so construct the companion sections or units that they may be easily connected, one to another, and any number desired used and dISPOSGd either in alinement or at any desired angle 15 relative to each other a I Another object of the invention 1s to provide units. each carrying a bulb receiving socket at one end and having at its other end a terminal adapted to-pivotally connect the unit with the socket carrying end of another unit and establish an electrical connection between the same whereby current may pass from one to the other. I

Another object of the invention is to permit companion units to be easily attached to each other and while preventing them from accidentally separating, allow them to be easily detached from each other when desired.

vide units of this character wherein each has embeddedtherein conductorswhich are hidden from view and serve very effectively to transmit electric current from one unit .to another and cause bulbs engaged in sockets of the units to be illuminated. V j a 7 Still another object of the invention resides in providing a device which-is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manu- O facture and one which will be very efficient in operatiom With these and numerous other objects inview, my invention consists in the novel featuresof construction,combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in 'thespecification-and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forminga part of this application: i a

= Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing Another object of the invention is to proa number of units connected to each other and carrying bulbs;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the units shown in Figure 1;.

FigureS isa sectional view showing a pair of units separated;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the units united; a

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one unit Y and a feeder plug; 7

Figure 6 isa bottom plan view of the unit shown in Figure 5; Y

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4: showing a shield engaged in the socket of the unit instead of a bulb. p

In describing the invention, we shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. This improved electrical fixture consists of a plurality of sectionsor units 1 which are of a duplicate construction and any number found necessarymay be used. They may extend in alinement ortransversely of 'each other and may be disposed at any angle desired in order to form letters, symbols or a suitable background or border. I

a Each unit is formed of insulating material and consists of a shankQ having a socket 3 at one end and a plug 4L at its other end for engagement in the pocket 5 of the socket of an adjoining unit in order to releasably connect the units and permit them to be swung transversely of each other to adjusted positions. A latch 6 which is slidably mounted for movement into and out of an operative position retains adjoining units in engagement with each other and since it is mounted against the rear face of the shank, it will be hidden from view and prevented from detracting from the appearance of a sign.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the socket 3 has a shell 7 mounted therein to receive the base 8 of a bulb 9. The center terminal 10 which is insulated from the shell extends into the pocket 5 and carries jaws 11 to engage about the metal head 12 of the plugt. A bolt 13 connects the shell 7 with a terminal plate 14 and this plate is formed with an opening to receive the plug and carries depending jaws 15 to firmly grip a metal joined to the head 12. A ring 191which isv formed of insulating material is screwed into the open end of the pocket 5 and is of the proper diameter to fit snugly about the plug 4 and prevent the plug from having transverse movement which would be liable to bend the jaws 11 and 15 out ofshape. Disks 20 formed of metal and serving as reflectors or decorative backgrounds for the bulbs are fitted upon the front ends of the sockets 3 where they are secured by rings 21.

In order to form a signor other electrical display,- the units are connectedby fitting the plug at one end of a. unit into the pocketfi of anotherand the latch 6 of the second unit is movedto'an operative position in which it extends beneath the plug carrying end'of the first unit and holds the plug inthe pocket with its head 12 and band 16 gripped'by the formed;

jaws 11 and 15.

By using a suitable number of units and disposing; in proper angular relation to each otheraname or ornamental design can be Current is supplied by feed wires which have their-ends embedded'in a terminalplug 23' carryinga neck 24 corresponding to the plug-4* and having m'ountedthereon a metalhead 25 andband' 26 to which-the.

"" wires 22 are attached. This plug has its neck or stem 2-1 engaged in the pocket 5 of the end unit and at their other ends the wires22 may be attached to a plug for engagement in a wall socket. When it is desired to omit one or more bulbs when form- I ing words or portions ofadesign the sockets 3' from which bulbs are omitted should be shielded'in order to prevent water from entering the sockets and forming ashort circuit if the si 11 is mounted out of doors. Therefore, eac socket from which a bulb is omitted will be closed by a cap or filler 27 having a threaded neck 28 which is screwed into the shell 7 and a gasket 29 is fitted aboutv the neck in order to bear against the end of the socket and form a water tightjoint.

From the foregoing description of the construction of our improved electric fixture, the operation thereof and" the method of applying the same to use will be readily understood. It will be seen. that we have.

provided asimple, inexpensive and efiicient' means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while we have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention. 1

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In an electric. fixture, a; plurality of units-each having a bulb receiving socket at one end and a pocket beneath the socket, a plug being provided at the other end of each unit, to engage in the pocket of an adjoining unit, a shell insaid socket to receive the base of a bulb, a center pin extending from said socket into said pocket, an eccentric'a lly located shell pin extending from] said shelf into said pocket, ahead of conductive material' carried by said plug, a collar of con ductive material carried by said pluggconi ductors extending longitudinally in said unit and at one end thereof extending into the plug-and connected to'the head and col lar, a plate in said pocket engaged by theshe'll pin and oneconductor and having jaws to engage the-collar of a plug, and'jawscarried by the center pin to engage the head of a plug.

2; In an electrical fixture, a plurality" of duplicate, units, each consisting of a bulb receiving socket and an arm formed integral therewith and projecting transversely from thesocket, a-plug projecting upwardly from the. free end of' sai'd arm, conductors-extending longitudinally through said arm 'and into said socket, terminals carried by said plugand engaged by said conductors, and termi nals in said socket engagedby the other endsof' said conductors and constituting means to p the plug and terminals thereofofa companiontunit and releasably connect the units forpivotal movement relative to'each other and establish electrical communication between their conductors.

3; In an electric fixture, a. pluralit of duplicate units eachconsistingof abar av= inga socket extending-upwardly from' one end and a' plugrising from its other end, a pocket being formed in the-lower portion of said socket andopeningthrough its lower end to receive the plug of-an adjoiningunit, and the lower portion of'the socket beingre-- cessed to' receive the free end portion of an arm of an adjoining unit when the plug thereof is inserted into the'pocket and disposed under 'faces' of the unitszfiush with each other, contacts carried by said: plug; clutches in-sa'id pocket to grip the plugrandi engage the contacts-thereof,- a bulb receiving: shell andcenter contact in said socketicon nected with said clutches, and conductors extending, longitudinally through said bar and into said socket with their ends connect-- ed with. the clutches and contacts of the plug.

4. In an electric fixture, a plurality of duplicate units each consisting of a bar having a socket extending upwardly from one end and a plug rising from its other end, a pocket being formed in the lower portion of said socket and opening through its lower end to receive the plug of an adjoining unit, a bulb receiving shell and center contact in said socket, contacts carried by said plug, con- 1 ductors extending longitudinally through said bar and connected with the contacts'of the plug and shell and center contact of the socket, and means in said pocket to grip the plug to pivotally connect adjoining units and establish communication between the conductors of the units.

5. In an electric fixture, a plurality of duplicate units each consisting of a lamp receiving socket and a rigid arm projecting transversely thereof and formed with a plug at its free end, the plug and socket having spaced contacts insulated from each other, and conductors extending through said arm and connecting contacts of the socket with contacts of the plug, the plug being releasably engageable with the socket of an adjoining unit and when in place serving to pivotally connect the units for swinging movement transversely of each other and establish communication between conductors of the connectedunits.

6. In an electric fixture, a plurality of units each having a bulb receiving socket rising from one end and a plug rising from its other end to engage in a pocket opening through the bottom of the socket of an adjoining unit and releasably connect the units in overlapped relation for swinging movement transversely of each other to adjusted positions, and conductors embedded in each unit and extending longitudinally through the same from the socket to the plug thereof whereby current may pass through the units from one to another and illuminate bulbs engaged in the sockets.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

JOHN H. PERONI.

o SIDNEY H. ALEXANDER. 

